Jeep Renegade

Editors' Rating

Price Starting at

$19,640

Shop Local Cars

Build and Price

Price Starting at

$19,640

Shop Local Cars

Build and Price

Overview

Look up “cute-ute” and you’ll find a picture of this, the most adorable Jeep. Never fear: The Renegade is worthy of its seven-slot grille, bug eyes and all. Its 160-hp turbo inline-four pairs to a six-speed manual; the optional 180-hp inline-four has a nine-speed auto. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional, and there’s a Trailhawk model, too. Consider the standard Uconnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and this little Jeep looks even better.

2018 Jeep Renegade

Mild updates to the littlest Jeep.

Overview: When Jeep first put one of its most respected historic nameplates, Renegade, on a big-eyed crossover that veritably defines the term “cute ute,” traditionalists nearly took up arms, especially when they learned it would be built in Italy, not the United States. But the boxy little wagon has proven to be right-sized for the times, popular—and loaded with personality. Plus the Trailhawk model, with its standard four-wheel-drive system, low range/crawl ratio, underbody skid plates, and red tow hooks, actually is decent off-road.

As before, the Renegade is offered with a choice of a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four engine, paired to a six-speed manual transmission, or a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four with 180 horsepower that comes only with a nine-speed automatic. The 2.4-liter is an option on Sport, Latitude, and Altitude models but is standard on the Limited and Trailhawk. Four-wheel drive is available with both powertrains for $1500. The base combo of turbo four and manual transmission is pretty good, and we’re always happy to find a manual transmission offered, especially here, where its precise shifter throws and character suit this Jeep’s personality. The 2.4-liter is decent but not much to brag about.

What’s New: Some redesigned interior components, including relocated Selec-Terrain controls and USB ports that free up a bit more front-row storage space in the 2018 Renegade. Frankly, though, only owners of a 2017 Renegade might notice the difference. A backup camera now comes standard on all versions.

Also freshened for 2018 are the infotainment systems. The base Sport model employs a 5.0-inch touchscreen with voice control and Bluetooth connectivity, and Sport buyers can upgrade to a 7.0-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that comes standard on the Renegade Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk trim levels. In addition, Jeep’s 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system with navigation is optionally available on all but the base Sport, as is a dual-pane glass power sunroof, which is new for 2018. Speaking of trick roofs, the Renegade’s nifty My Sky roof system, consisting of two removable panels, now can be ordered on all models. Some new colors, interior fabrics, and trim treatments round out the updates for 2018.

What We Like: With a profile this boxy, you know cargo space will be impressive, and the Renegade measures out as one of the roomiest in its segment. But what the Renegade’s looks don’t tell you is that the steering is responsive and the ride is quite good for something this small. The optional My Sky roof’s removable panels over the front and rear seats would be cool enough even without the front panel being able to power back on tracks like a traditional sunroof, but it does that, too.

The upgraded interior materials in the 2018 model help class up the Renegade’s whimsically designed cabin without diminishing its character. The optional Beats audio system is another boon to the youth market that the Renegade targets with reasonable precision.

We also get a kick out of the numerous Easter eggs—motifs associated with Jeeps that designers have hidden around the vehicle ostensibly for owners to discover over time—such as the jerrycan pattern that spans the My Sky roof panels, a relief map of Moab etched into the rubber center-console liner, and the Jeep face found in the centers of the head- and taillamp assemblies.

What We Don’t Like: However tidy its handling may be, the Renegade is surprisingly heavy. That weight in turn hampers acceleration—the quickest Renegade we’ve ever tested hit 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, and most have taken more than nine seconds. The mass also impedes fuel economy, with the Renegade’s EPA ratings well below average for the subcompact-crossover segment. The heaviest Renegade of all, the off-road-oriented Trailhawk model, turns in long-ish braking distances, too, in part because of its dirt-capable tires. Drivers may find themselves flooring the gas often, and when the Renegade is equipped with the 2.4-liter engine, the resulting sound is coarse and unpleasant. While the Renegade’s design looks cool and convincingly Jeeplike, the upright windshield translates into lots of wind noise, and from the driver’s seat the roof pillars around the windshield and rear window appear as thick as tree trunks. Finally, with top trim levels creeping into the mid-$30K range with options, the Renegade can be pricey if you’re not careful.